Automatic valve controlled gas dosing apparatus



Jan. 22, 1963 R. LEVlEL 074,422

AUTOMATIC VALVE CONTROLLED GAS DOSING APP Filed March 16, 1959 5Sheets-Sheet 1 4 5 [H i B E-ff Jan. 22, 1963 R. LEVIEL 7 AUTO C VALVECONTROLLED GAS DOSING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 195 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Jan. 22, 1963 R. 1.5m. 3,074,422

AUTOMATIC VALVE CONTROLLED GAS nosmc APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1959 V sSheets-Sheet s a) Patented Jan. 2.2, 1963 The improved apparatuscomprises a bell-shaped float, 3,674,422 floating inside a vessel intowhich a liquid is introduced. AUTGMATIC VALVE CQNTRLQLLEQ GAS The floatcontrols the admission of gas into the vessel DGSE IG APPARATUS RogerLeviel, Qonrhevoie, France, assignor to Degremont- Acti,Rueil-Maimaison, France, a corporation of France Filed Mar. 16, 1959,Ser. No. 799,526 Claims priority, appiieation France Apr. 8, 1958 16Claims. (Cl. 137-10127) This invention relates to gas dosing apparatusfor delivering gas in measured quantities. When the delivery of gas mustbe regulated to a fixed value, the apparatus usually comprises one ormore reducing valves or like devices disposed in such a way as to keepthe gas pressure constant, the delivery being then regulated by means ofa calibrated orifice or a valve. In order to vary the gas deliver,either the size of the regulating orifice or the adjustment of thereducing valve can be altered so as to vary the pressure on the upstreamside of the orifice, the downstream pressure being atmospheric pressurein this case.

Another arrangement for efiecting the gas dosing consists in using oneor more reducing valves or like devices for keeping constant both thepressure obtaining on the upstream and that on the downstream sides ofan orifice or a regulating valve. This provides for constancy of the gasdelivery when the gas to be dosed is delivered at a pressure differentfrom atmospheric pressure.

One disadvantage of these known dosing apparatus resides in the lack ofprecision of the reducing valves or like devices, which are diflicult tomanufacture in suitable form, especially when it is necessary to utilisecorrosion-resistant materials, as is the case when the gas to be dosedis corrosive, for example chlorine.

Very often the gas is intended to be dissolved in a liquid, and theknown apparatus to which reference has just been made do not readilypermit of proportioning the delivery of gas to that of liquid in asimple manner.

This is particularly the case in the sterilization of water by chlorine.The chlorine is almost always dissolved in a small quantity of waterwhich in turn is mixed with the water to be sterilized.

Recently progress has been made by the introduction of sodium chloriteto chlorinated water, these two reagents together forming chlorinedioxide, a vigorous antiseptic and oxidizing agent, which does notpossess the unpleasant smell of chlorine and, in contrast to the latter,never forms with phenols addition compounds having a disagreeable taste.

However, so that this reaction may be produced under the optimumconditions, it is necessary to produce a chlorinated water of constantcontent, sufiiciently rich in chlorine (app. 1 gram per liter), whichcannot be obtained directly and in a simple manner with the known gasdosing apparatus.

The invention has for its main object to provide apparatus forobtaining, in a simple manner, a regular delivery and precise dosing ofthe gas.

This gas dosing apparatus operates in such a way as to keep a constantdifference of pressure on the two sides of a calibrated orifice, asalready known, but this aim is here achieved without mechanicalaccessories and without the use of a flexible diaphragm.

through a calibrated orifice in the bell, in such a way that thedifference of pressure inside the vessel and that under the bell isalways equal to the diflerence between the displacement otthe float andthe weight of the latter.

The liquid upon which the float rests can be the same liquid in which itis desired to dissolve the gas.

Regulation of the delivery of gas is eflected by controlling thedelivery or level of the liquid, which results in varying the diflerencebetween the pressures on the two sides of the calibrated orifice, insuch a Way that this pressure difierence is always equal to thediflierence between the displacement of the float and its weight.

The invention is hereinafter described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate some embodiments of theapparatus, it being understood that these are only examples, and thatother shapes, proportions and arrangements of the components can beadopted without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 of the drawings represents one embodiment of the apparatus,wherein the gas flows from the exterior towards the interior of thefloat, but apparatus operating in an identical manner can be arrangedwith the gas flowing from the inside outwardly.

The gas is supplied through a tube 1, the bent end of which can beclosed by a valve 2 fixed to the float 3. The float 3 is housed in aclosed vessel or casing 4, which fits its shape with suflicientclearance to permit movement of the float. The general shape of thefloat 3 is that of a bell, so that when this float rests on a liquid,two separate spaces are thus created: one space situated above andaround the outside of the float and the other beneath the float. Thesetwo spaces are in communication through a calibrated orifice 5.

A pipe 6 serves for introducing a liquid into the casing 4 through avalve 7.

A pipe 8 controlled by a valve 9 allows of emptying the casing 4 of thecontained liquid.

Finally, a transparent level tube it? in the shape of a siphon permitsor" checking the level of liquid inside the bell. When the casing 4 isempty, the float 3 hangs upon the valve 2, which blocks the entry ofgas.

it liquid is introduced through the valve 7 into the casing 4 up to acertain level (for example 0), the float is subject to an upward thrustproportionate to the volume of the float situated below the level 0,which thrust balances the inherent weight of the float. The valve 2 thenopens, permitting gas to enter the casing 4.

This gas, introduced into the casing 4, can only escape through theorifice 5 and then through a delivery pipe 1-1. When more gas isdelivered through the gas inlet means or conduit it than can passthrough the restricted orifice 5 into the interior of the bell-shapedfloat 3, the gas pressure in the gas space at the exterior of the float3 will rise and force thereby liquid contained in the vessel 4 upwardlyinto the interior of the float 3. In other words, the liquid level onthe outside of the float will drop down to the level M whereas theliquid level in the interior of the float will rise to the level N.Thereby the buoyancy or" the float will be reduced, the float 3 willmove in downward direction and move the valve 2 connected to the float 3in a direction to close the openinside the float will equalize again sothat the liquid will drop down to the normal liquid level in which casethe buoyancy of the float increases again and will open the valve 2until a state of equilibrium is obtained in which the amount of gasdelivered through the device will depend on the pressure difference inthe two gas spaces into which the float divides the gas space above theliquid level.

In order to stop the gasidelivery, it is suflicient to E PW. t szs sih.2 .hfzt .sq itaihssi ha idn i m an of thsra vsh- .1 I Q hfihi'tai eveah lie h eih sl ...Ihe ha has ,mesns eh ehts 9f thshoat e nly. fluenc drs he-ld fisrs sb ws hihe hrs shrels hyejan fiha sa hes h st '3, ar d, 1y. e ab olute iY lll a Qfi ach the! hqd ss. T e-solu i ;iqrmsdsflows onth qu h Pi s 4 The location of theorifices. 12 gand heir dimensionsmust. be. su h. that theihta .dsl ys y fl w n h eu the orifices 12 isalways proportional to the -square root. of the difierence .betweenthelevel N andlevelIM ln this case, as the .de vs ymii ss pa sin hr h.- theOr ce sp po -t h to he qua s.. ot. f -ihe ie sh es t es s s chil s. r peiv id s p this QI fisfe a d. w qh htly. also. pr por ion-a1 to e sq areroot h 2 h d e nce, t iiszqu ts. sv d m a ai h s w y t del ve y fg s P sin th o hep fice E"; is directly proportional to. the delivery-ofwaterpass; ingv throughthe orifices 12,- since these two deliveries a em l rpwp r iQn LtQ themme s d v u e o he 1 s ;fihusikanmmt Pmdw a 1utioh iiofa itli iila ed I .Wh h ah the gas pressure in' the g'as spaces outsidethe lloat and sign of liquid. N i

' f. gas, is. znoalohg r reguls edby vary g the h ve stantconcentration..; .lf it is required to .dose avater with hlh i e. 5. makn s-ch ne .dihx de. nt pt r t is 0 es es m a t hisfih Q l h -i l :w r.concentrated solutio gtv of sodiurnchlorite; to obtain aychlorinedioxide solution, which can be employed fior 'thQsteriliza- Q -.hh eqshzhtmhw ai Re u a o ofaths delivery of chlorine will be eifected by meansof the l e wish h is h efiihs.d l rs ris ivcha y thelevel N shown in thetube 10. I 1

d s h t a h y. s sm le a d h ho t hbe ven h sh ha est xt r a sh a is p fr y yl nsh h Qr..-i h t sl s h srn l shr ss s h als s e l hsh slhri rihi I an sass ti d an a eo -t s s. i sh h- .shsh h t. t y lhm jhe w.thelsm N increases much more than the level N, as the latter rises:'pe'r'efitsafesrenaifig' the raage of'pos'silile deliveries for a givenapparatus, and of obtaining a gas delivery substantially proportional tothe height H. &1ch proportionality would be strict if the shape of thefloat were such that for every height H of the level N the volumeimmersed below the level N, diminished by the weight 013 the float, wereproportional to the square of the height H. In practice, other andsimpler shapes may be adopted provided that the apparatus is calibratedto a given standard by measurement of the gas delivery as a function ofvarious levels N.

It will be obvious thatgmany; other embodiments are equally possible;ifiMorex especially, "the, .gasiicould flow from the interior towardstheexteriorIofthe float, instead of fiowing inw'ardly from the-exterio' iep'resehted ih FIGS? 'l'ahd by a suitable modificationof the location'It :is. possible ;.to render thehapparatus automatic in operation,- forexample in; order. to pause it to deliver gas..inproportionvto.,theqdelive ny Q fl d, for; thi e p e ithis. Q lahe s ahlate propantionately the delivery ofsliquidg i lmdugedtthrough theconduit 6,1as; b V devices and apparatus; w.: EIG'..3 Qf:thedr ng IPmSmB; hQ hfi fi? b9 meat of theimprovedfi hg apparatusawher ih,i ed leril the or-nil volati i yimp to. any v l: such as A hsapps e c he;iitis d s r d bylwybfih lo tle with a toppe li- ,:Un r.- se qhdit o s te s atta he o. h fl at 3.; a W ghtof 1. a, v lue w ich; adde orthszveigh uof the float is equal othexolume. fi.the..:fl at;immer d blqw:.. he .1ev 1-;N,;.the .fl at. 3 ca n 1. 9 86 5 fl at, and thevalvelwill thereforez elose 3.1;.- j,f;;.." h th =0t r,hand,r f thew ighLad ihi less. han th va1u -:P,.- -he. o t t nd. 1 7 i e. m h fl s eoi hdin de the bell e/Io he p s agezohghs; hlmn he. orifi 5., mul p d i Y;:the. area. of'ihe: horizon l se t o of he..fl0 5,, compen a es the-buyancy Qt-th assembly comprising the fioatS and the added-W ight;

I For; a y, :g e lhepf :this addemw ah there. will therefore exist adefinite and, predetermined, delivery 'of 'l- I i I. u. 111's :w-w dzThe weight canconsist gof any solidg'body, -a,contamer filledrmore orless; with iquid,-.0r by a: float,.acc.0rding t0 hepu a s .i.YieW.1i.-:.....

If the object is to sterilizetheqwateigfrgmgla, culvert with chlorinegas, ,it is possible -to adopt the. arrangement represente y w y oflexplein FIG-.3. oY weir 17 is disposed in ,theline .of ,the. culvert, andto the flo 3.1here .is. ch a gh 1l8,.-.a .;-v ylawro 1.9

- ho s d inas sa h 2.0, s rhsu h a w y thatthe-lswerem in line withthelevelB of the veg,-

of the Weight 18 is w wsir l, When .1 {Wi h flows. o r th =W .17, 6 .wigh 18 hangs entirely on the float 3. The.weightissQS flected t 11 Y isqual 0 t e. V e: Of t e fle t-immersed b o s s .N .;-d m n s by. he.ghtot .t'h float. Under these. conditions, the yalve ais .closed-..-;

. "Y t-h st sws wn wshlll, il zwai r alevel rises and the Water hesthe-.u ,s. ht 18yr thza YQl l l iinr creasing as the flow increases. Theweight 18 is thus buoyed up by its immersed volume, and the float 3 isthen subject to a vertical thrust equal to the immersed volume of theweight 18; consequently the valve 2 will lift until the loss or" head inthe float due to the passage of the gas through the orifice 5 multipliedby the area of the horizontal section of the float, is again equal tothe immersed volumes of the float 3 and of the weight 1%, less theirrespective weights.

The loss of head due to passage of the gas through the orifice 5'creates a difference between the liquid levels outside and inside thefloat 3, which has the consequence of increasing further the thrustexerted upon the float 3 by the liquid contained in the casing 4; inother words, the buoyancy of the float 3 is not constant.

This buoyancy force can be made practically constant by greatlyincreasing the volume available for the liquid below the float 3, inrelation to the volume available outside, in such a Way that a variationof level outside the bell causes only a negligible change in the levelinside.

HO, ever, it is possible to retain the shapes of the float 3 and of thecasing 4 represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, provided they are considered indetermining the shape of the Weight 18, for example a paraboloid shapeas shown.

The water flowing over the weir 7.7 is proportional to the height ofwater above the sill of the weir multiplied by an exponent or factor :1depending on the shape given to the overflow 37.

Furthermore, the delivery of gas through the orifice 5 is proportionalto the square root of the diilerence between the sum of the immersedvolumes of the float 3 and weight 13 and the sum of their respectiveweights. it follows that proportionality between the delivery of gas andthe delivery of water will be ensured if the weight 18 is given such ashape such that the square root of the difference between the sum of theimmersed volumes of the float 3 and weight 18 and the sum of theirrespective weights is always proportional to the exponent acorresponding to the depth of water above the weir 17.

The suspension rod 19 of the float i8 is housed in a sheath 29, asmentioned above, in order to avoid escape of gas into the atmosphere,the lower end of this sheath being immersed in water below the level ofthe weir 17, so as to constitute a hydraulic seal. The gas can be ledinto the water to be sterilized through a perforated pipe immersed inthe water, or more simply by a pipe 21 opening below the water surface,downstream of the weir 3.7, as shown in FIG. 3.

What I claim is:

l. A gas flow regulating device comprising, in combination, a closedvessel; a liquid filling said vessel up to a pre etermined level anddefining a gas space above said level; float means located in saidvessel floating in said liquid and extending partly above said liquidand dividing said gas space into two separate space portions beingnormally the same gas pressure; gas inlet means for feeding gas underpressure into one of said space portions; rest icted gas outlet meanscommunicating with said one space portion so that gas pressure in saidone space portion will increase over the gas pressure in the other spaceportion when more gas is delivered through said inlet means than canpass through said restricted outlet means, resulting in lowering of theliquid level in said one space portion so as to reduce thereby thebuoyance of said float and corresponding downward move- 1311i. of thesame; valve means operatively connected to said float means for closingsaid gas inlet means when said float means is moving in downwarddirection and for opening said gas inlet means when said float means ismoving in upward direction; and means acting on said float means forchanging the position thereof independent of variations of pressure insaid space portions without reventing the free floating of the floatmeans in said liquid.

2. A gas flow regulating device comprising, in combination, a closedvessel; liquid filling said vessel up to a predetermined level anddefining a gas space above said level; float means located in saidvessel floating in said liquid and extending partly above said liquidand dividing said gas space into two separate space portions; gas inletmeans for feeding gas under pressure into one of said separate spaceportions; gas outlet means for delivering gas from the other of saidseparate space portions; restricted passage means providingcommunication between said one and said other space portion so that whenmore gas is delivered through said inlet means than can pass throughsaid restricted passage means gas pressure in said one space portionwill increase causing rise of the liquid in said other space portion,changing thereby the buoyancy of said float means and causingcorresponding movement of the same; valve means operativcly connected tosaid float means for closing said gas inlet means when the liquid insaid other space portion rises above and for opening said gas inletmeans when the liquid in said other space portion falls below saidpredetermined level; and means acting on said float means for changingthe position thereof independent of variations of pressure in said spaceportions without preventing the free floating of said float means insaid liquid to obtain thereby a selected delivery of gas from said otherspace portion.

3. A gas flow regulating device comprising, in combination, a closedvessel; liquid filling said vessel up to a predetermined level anddefining a gas space above said level; bell-shaped float means locatedin said vessel floating in said liquid and extending partly above saidliquid and dividing said gas space into two separate space portions, oneat the exterior of said bell-shaped float means and mother in theinterior of said bell-shaped float means; gas inlet means for feedinggas under pressure into one of said separate space portions; gas outletmeans for delivering gas from the other of said separate space portions;restricted passage means providing communication between said one andsaid other space pontion so that when more gas is delivered through saidinlet means than can pass through said restricted passage means gaspressure in said one space portion will increase causing rise of theliquid in said other space portion, changing thereby the buoyancy ofsaid float means and causing corresponding movement of the same; valvemeans operatively connected to said float means for closing said gasinlet means when the liquid in said other space portion rises above andfor opening said gas inlet means when the liquid in said other spaceportion falls below said predetermined level; and means acting on saidfloat means for changing the position thereof independent of variationsof pressure in said space portions without preventing the free floatingof said float means in said liquid to obtain thereby a selected deliveryof gas from said other space portion.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which said float means has a sidewall portion adapted to be at least partly immersed in said liquid andsaid side wall portion increasing in dimension toward the upper end ofsaid float means.

5. A gas flow regulating device comprising, in combination, a closedvessel; liquid filling said vessel up to a predetermined level anddefining a gas space above said level; float means located in saidvessel floating in said liquid and extending partly above said liquidand dividing said gas space into two separate space portions; gas inletmeans for feeding gas under pressure into said one separate spaceportion at the exterior of said bell-shaped float means; gas outletmeans for delivering gas from said other separate portion in (theinterior of said bell-shaped float means; restricted passage meansproviding communication between said one and said other space pontion sothat when more gas is delivered through said inlet means than can passthrough said restricted passage means gas pressure in said one spacepontion will increase causing rise of the liquid in said other spaceportion, reducing thereby the buoyancy of said float'means: and causingcorrespond+v ing downward movementfof the same; valve-means operativelyconnected-"to said :float means vfor closing :said S gas inlet means:when the liquid in; said other space. portion rises =-above saidpredetermined level and: said. float means movesin downward-directionandfor opening said gas inlet means 1 when the liquidsin said; other spaceportion falls below said predetermined levelnand said float means movesin upward direction; and means acting ;on :said float'means for changingthe position thereof independent of l variations of pressure in saidspace portions without preventing-thence floating ofsaid float means insaid liquid to obtain thereby a selected :delivery; .of "gas from saidother 'space-portioni it i 1: "6."-Agas flowmegula'ting devicecomprising, in combinationpa closed-vessel; means for feedingliquidrinto said vessel up to a predetermined" level-soasi to leave 1a Igas space above 'said leveh float means-located inisaid vessel floatingin 'said liquid '-and-- extending partly above said liquid 'and'dividingsaid gasspace'into two separate space portions; -gas inlet means for:feeding gas under pressure intoio'n'e ofsaid separate space-portions;fluid outlet means for delivering fluid trom the interior ofsaidwesselprestrict'ed passage means providing communication betweensaid "one-and said other space portionsd that-when more gas is deliveredthrough said inlet means than canF ass through said restrictedpassagemeans= gas pressurel'in said one space'flportion' will increase icausing: risezof ithe liquid in said'other space portion, changingthereby thebuoyancy of said float -mean s andcausingcorrespondingmovement or the sameg valve' means operatively connected tosaid float 'meansior closing said-gas inlet meansswhenithe liquid in'said other'space'portion rises above'andforopening said gas inlet meanswhen thel'liquidi in said :other space 1 portion falls below: saidpredetermined level; and means aoting' on said float meansforchanging'the position thereof independent of variationsof:pressure'insai d. space portions-without preventing the-freefloatingaof said float means in said' liquidi to obtain therebyaaselected delivery of gas from said other space portion J 7; A' :gasfloW'regulatingdevice comprising, .in combin'a-tioma 'closed vessel; liquid=fillingsaid 'svesselzup toa predetermined level and defining: a gasspace :above said level; floatmeanslocat'ed in said vessel: floatingsaid liquid and extending partlyabo've said liquidand dividing said 'gasspace into two separate space. portions; 'gasyinlet means for feeding gas 'under pressure into one :of said separate.space portions; gas outletmeans. for delivering gas from the otherof said: separate-space..pontions;,r estricted passage means providing communicationbetween said one andsaid other space portion: sol' thatwvhen more gas isdelivered through said'inlet means tha can; pass through saidr'estricted passagemeans gas pressure in said one space portion willincreasecausingrise of .the liquid in said other space portion, changingthereby the buoyancy of saidflo'at means and causing correspondingmovement of the same; :valve means operatively connected to said floatmeans for closing said .gasinlet: meanstiwhen the liquid in said otherspace portion rises above and for opening-said gas inlet means whentheliquid in said other spacepo'rtion falls below saidpredetermined level;and means communicating with said-(vessel for. changing thepredetermined'levelof said liquid therein to change thereby theposition'of- 'saidfloatmeans in said vesseL; .1 1 I 8. gasflowiregulating device comprising, incombinationpa closed vessel;:liquid'lflllingsaidsvessel :upto a predeterminedlevelandudefiningsagas'zspaceabove said level; float means; located in said vessel floatingingsaid liquid: and extending 'partlyabove said liquid and dividing saidgas space'into' two separate; space portions;- gas. inlet means forfeeding zgas under. pressure into one of said separate space portions;gas. outlet means for delivering gasfrom theother of said separate spaceportions into a streamof liquidiwhich includes means for changing, itslevel :aacgording to .the rateof flow. thereof; restricted passagemeansproviding communication between said one and saidother spaceportion so that when moregas: is delivered through said inlet means thancan passvthrough said restricted passage means; gas :pressure in saidone spaceporti'onwill increase causing riseofl the liquid in said otherspace portion, changing thereby the buoyancy of said float means andcausing corresponding movement oithe same;-va1ve n1eans 'operatively;connected to said float means for closing said gasginlet meanszwhen theliquidin said otherispace. portion rises. above-and for openingsaidtgastinlet means when-theliquid in said other space portion; falls;below; said predetermined level; and weight means partly immersedinsaidstream of liquid and; operatively connected to said float; means.for changing the effective weightthereof for: adjusting .thedeliveryVofgas, intov said stream of liquiddependingonthe rate of flowofthelatter; l a :1; ;;.1i

#9,..Aigas flow regulating device :com'prisingsin combination, atclo'sedvessel; adjustable means for feedingiliquid .into-saidvessel up toa'predetermined level sowas to leave .a:.-gas' spaceabove; saidalevel;.bellrshap'ed. float means located in said vessel floating insaidliquidland extending partly above saidiliquidsfordividing:said'.:gas space into two. separate space portions. one..atthe: exterior and the other in the interior of said bell-shaped floatmeans; gas inlet means-for.feedin'g gas under pressure adapted to;be,dissolvablein saidliquid intos'aid oneexterior-space portion;restricted passage means providing communication between saidtwozseparate space portions so ithatwhen more gas is delivered throughsaid; inlet means than can pass through saidrestrictedpassage means gaspressurein said one space; portion will: increase causing .ri s'e. of;the liquid'insaid otherspace portion, reducing thereby: buoyancy of saidfloat means and causing downward movement thereof; chamber meansextendingrfromsaid ,vessellupwardly. into. the interior of said floatmeans and being formed withua plurality ofrestricted;openings:.providing communication between :the :interior ofsaid: ,floatmeans and .the interior of said chamber means; valve meansoperatively connected to said floatmeans for closing said gas inletmeans when. the liquid insaid otherlspace; portionrisesabove saidpredetermined level and saidfloat meansmoves in downwarddirection andfor opening said gas inlet means when the liquid. in said other spaceportion falls below said predetermined level and saidfloat means movesin upward, direction; and outlet means communicatingwithsaid-chamber-meansfor delivering'liquid and gas dissolved thereinfrom said .chambermeanss 10. Apparatus for producing a solutionof'gas-in a liquid of selected constant concentration independent of thepressureot vth'e'gas fed intothe apparatus comprising,

in combination, a closed'vessel; liquid filling said vessel 11ptoapredetermined level and .deflning-a'gas space above .said level; bellshaped float means locatedsin said vessel portion will increase, causingrise of the liquid in-the vesselin said other space portion, reducingthereby buoyan cy of said float means and causing downwardmovement'thereof; valve means operatively connectedto said float means.for'closingsaid gas inlet means-whenthe .liquid in saidother spaceportion rises above said predetermined level-and said float means :movesin downward directionand-for opening said gas inlet means-when the:liquid in said other space portionfalls below said-predetermined leveland said float means moves in upward direction; gas outlet means for-delivering gas from said interior space portion into a stream of liquidin which said gas is dissolvable to obtain thereby a solution ofselected constant concentration of gas in said stream of liquidindependent of the pressure of gas fed into the apparatus; and meanscooperating with said float means for changing the position thereofindependent of the gas pressure in said space portions withoutpreventing the free floating of said float means in the liquid in thevessel and automatic change of the positions of said float means due tovariations in said gas pressure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.15,5-80 Trumble n- Apr. 17, 1923 Giroud Dec. 1, 1874 Cline Mar. 2, 1897Weeks Apr. 21, 1908 Lytton Dec. 8, 1914 Olson Nov. 30, 1915 GattermeirMar. 28, 19:16 Ledoux Nov. 15, 1927 Freeman Feb. 5, 1946 Moore Mar. 19,1946 Perkins Aug. 30, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Apr. 2, 1931

1. A GAS FLOW REGULATING DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CLOSEDVESSEL; A LIQUID FILLING SAID VESSEL UP TO A PREDETERMINED LEVEL ANDDEFINING A GAS SPACE ABOVE SAID LEVEL; FLOAT MEANS LOCATED IN SAIDVESSEL FLOATING IN SAID LIQUID AND EXTENDING PARTLY ABOVE SAID LIQUIDAND DIVIDING SAID GAS SPACE INTO TWO SEPARATE SPACE PORTIONS BEINGNORMALLY AT THE SAME GAS PRESSURE; GAS INLET MEANS FOR FEEDING GAS UNDERPRESSURE INTO ONE OF SAID SPACE PORTIONS; RESTRICTED GAS OUTLET MEANSCOMMUNICATING WITH SAID ONE SPACE PORTION SO THAT GAS PRESSURE IN SAIDONE SPACE PORTION WILL INCREASE OVER THE GAS PRESSURE IN THE OTHER SPACEPORTION WHEN MORE GAS IS DELIVERED THROUGH SAID INLET MEANS THAN CANPASS THROUGH SAID RESTRICTED OUTLET MEANS, RESULTING IN LOWERING OF THELIQUID LEVEL IN SAID ONE SPACE PORTION SO AS TO REDUCE THEREBY THEBUOYANCE OF SAID FLOAT AND CORRESPONDING DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE SAME;VALVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FLOAT MEANS FOR CLOSING SAIDGAS INLET MEANS WHEN SAID FLOAT MEANS IS MOVING IN DOWNWARD DIRECTIONAND FOR OPENING SAID GAS INLET MEANS WHEN SAID FLOAT MEANS IS MOVING INUPWARD DIRECTION; AND MEANS ACTING ON SAID FLOAT MEANS FOR CHANGING THEPOSITION THEREOF INDEPENDENT OF VERIATIONS OF PRESSURE IN SAID SPACEPORTIONS WITHOUT PREVENTING THE FREE FLOATING OF THE FLOAT MEANS IN SAIDLIQUID.
 8. A GAS FLOW REGULATING DEVICE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, ACLOSED VESSEL; LIQUID FILLING SAID VESSEL UP TO A PREDETERMINED LEVELAND DEFINING A GAS SPACE ABOVE SAID LEVEL; FLOAT MEANS LOCATED IN SAIDVESSEL FLOATING IN SAID LIQUID AND EXTENDING PARTLY ABOVE SAID LIQUIDAND DIVIDING SAID GAS SPACE INTO TWO SEPARATE SPACE PORTIONS; GAS INLETMEANS FOR FEEDING GAS UNDER PRESSURE INTO ONE OF SAID SEPARATE SPACEPORTIONS; GAS OUTLET MEANS FOR DELIVERING GAS FROM THE OTHER OF SAIDSEPARATE SPACE PORTIONS INTO A STREAM OF LIQUID WHICH INCLUDES MEANS FORCHANGING ITS LEVEL ACCORDING TO THE RATE OF FLOW THEREOF; RESTRICTEDPASSAGE MEANS PROVIDING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID ONE AND SAID OTHERSPACE PORTION SO THAT WHEN MORE GAS IS DELIVERED THROUGH SAID INLETMEANS THEN CAN PASS THROUGH SAID RESTRICTED PASSAGE MEANS GAS PRESSUREIN SAID ONE SPACE PORTION WILL INCREASE CAUSING RISE OF THE LIQUID INSAID OTHER SPACE PORTION, CHANGING THEREBY THE BUOYANCY OF SAID FLOATMEANS AND CAUSING CORRESPONDING MOVEMENT OF THE SAME; VALVE MEANSOPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FLOAT MEANS FOR CLOSING SAID GAS INLETMEANS WHEN THE LIQUID IN SAID OTHER SPACE PORTION RISES ABOVE AND FOROPENING SAID GAS INLET MEANS WHEN THE LIQUID IN SAID OTHER SPACE PORTIONFALLS BELOW SAID PREDETERMINED LEVEL; AND WEIGHT MEANS PARTLY IMMERSEDIN SAID STREAM OF LIQUID AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FLOAT MEANSFOR CHANGING THE EFFECTIVE WEIGHT THEREOF FOR ADJUSTING THE DELIVERY OFGAS INTO SAID STREAM OF LIQUID DEPENDING ON THE RATE OF FLOW OF THELATTER.